The Union government today said it will open seven new quality control cells in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) to monitor quality of food grains during procurement, storage and distribution.

The Union government said on Wednesday that it will open seven new quality control cells in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) to monitor quality of food grains during procurement, storage and distribution.

At present, states do not have a very strong quality control mechanism. The proposed new QCCs will help state agencies to ensure good quality grains are procured, stored safely and distributed via ration shops, he said.

Currently, there are eight quality control cells in different cities with small laboratories attached to them for physical analysis of food grains.